World Wide Words dates it from the 1950s, as Air Force slang for a fatal crash, with possible links " . . . to several older British slang sayings, like buy it or buy one (usually in the form “He’s bought one!”). . . . "

This usage almost certainly also reflected an earlier sardonic slang use of "buy" to mean "to be at fault for damaging," as a driver who crashed his car into a telephone pole might be said to have "bought a telephone pole."

I am interested in the origin of the phrase buy the farm. There are derivative euphemisms for sudden death but I can only guess at where the original expression came from. I'll watch your web site.

The explanation which I feel is most likely regarding the origin of bought/buy the farm (which originally meant 'killed/to be killed in action') is this: Young soldiers in the war (World War II) often asked one another what they planned to do when they returned home after the war. A common reply from those hailing from rural regions was that, upon returning home, a soldier would marry his girlfriend, buy a farm in his hometown, and raise children. Upon hearing of the death in action of a fellow soldier, a man would say with sad sarcasm, "He's bought his farm."

Did you know that CPr preformed without a current CPR card after a 'course' given by a Fire Department can be punishable by law? In many states here, you can get instruction in most fire stations, call your local one to find out.